Slot-closing mechanism por coin-controlled veiiding-machines



A. D. GROVER.

SLOT CLOSING MECHANISM FOR COIN CONTROLLED VENDING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED ocr'. 29. I915.

C 1,310,826. Patented July '22, 1919.

Y l6 15 I7 //\I\/E[ ITEIR fllberi 17. Grover.

THE COLUMBIA PLANMRAPN (0., WASHINGTON, D. C.

k we E T @FMGE ALBERT n. decree, on new emeni, AssIenon. BY MESNE essremvrnn'rs, T AUTOSA-LES oonrona'rron, A conroanrron or new YORK.

stow-CLOSING assume FOR COIN-CONTROLLED VENDING-MACHINES.

intense.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 22, 1919.

Original application filed May 11, 1915, Serial no. 27.302. Divided and this ap pfica tionfiled October 29,

a a l 1 1915; 'Seria11 To.58,543. v a

T0 aZZ whom it may concern: 1

Be 1t known that I ALBERT D- Gnovnn 7 i J a citizen of the United States, and a resident ofNew York city, inthe county of New York and State of New York, have invented certaiii new and useful"Improvements in Slot -Ol'os1ng Mechanism for Coin Con-' trolled VendingdVIachines;.of whiohthe following is a specification. i

This application is a division of my copending application, SerialNQrQZSOQ, filed May 11, 1915! Owing to an official require ment for division, theclaims in said (10 pending application directed to the slotclosing device of my invention were can ccled and are therefore, presented in the present'divisional case.

The ob ect of my 1nvent1on as. set forth in this application is the provision of means for automatically closing the coin-entrance slot of'the' machine when the supply of goods is exhausted. The slot-closing mechanism of my invention is characterized by the fact that it normally forms a yieldableobstruction to an entering coin and is automaticallydocked against movementinto uno-b;

structing position as soon as the magazine is empty. y

In the preferred form of myinvention, my new slot-closing mechanism also constitutes a washercatching clevice. That is to say, when a washer or any disk with a central 'oerforation is attempted to he in serted into the machine, thefwasher is automatically locked against full insertion into the coin-slot, although it may he read ily withdrawn." .The obstructing niemloer'is automatically locked in obstructing position through the medium of aweight which nor mally rests on the column of goodsir' the magazine.

A preferred form of invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1, shows the interior. mechanism of a vending machine embodying my new slot-closing device, the View being taken a proximately 0111111 11 of Fig. 2

Fig. 2, is a longitudinal view in cross section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and

.,Fig. 3,is a transverse cross-section ap proximately on line 83 of Fig.1.

The casing of the machine may be of any suitable construction and comprises the side walls *1 and: 2,the front wall 3, hack i, topplate and bottom-.6. The front, bottom and side walls may bGfOl'lllGCl in one piece or section which: fits against the back and top of the casing and islocked thereto by anysuitablemeansysuch as a lock L.

Within the casing ismounted the magazine M for containing the column of goods G. One of the side walls of the magazine is providedwith offset portions Gand 7, the purpose of which will be presently explained. The column ofgoodsmest nor mally on a tray orshelf. 8 which is pivoted on the rod 9 mounted inthe side walls of the magazine M. On the rod. 9'is mounted a sleeve. member 10"which "carries the dog 11. A spring 12 coiled on the rod 9 hears at one end against the dog llandnormally tends to press the same forwardly against the column of -goods.- The purpose of the dog 11 is to temporarily supportthe column of goods during the ejecting operation, as more fullyexplained in my co-pendingapplication, Serial No. 27,802, filed May 11.191 5. W A a On the lug 13, which may conveniently be fiXcd to one of the side walls of themagazine M, is mounted a hand -operated lever 1 1 by nieansof a pivot pin Or stud 15. i The lever 14 carries a-pin 16 on which is mounted the coin-actuated pawl ,17.- At its upper end the pawl 17 is provided withahook 18 which normally rests over the; shoulder 19 formed in one of the sidewalls of themagazine-section. M. The pawl 17 is provided with a weighted pbrtion' 20 which normally holds the hook 1.8. over the fixed shoulder 19, thereby normally locking the lever let against operation.

On the 1nner' side wall of the magazine- 21 and there is thus no connection between the pawl and the slide.

The slide 21 is operatively connected to the tiltable delivery shelf 8 through any suitable connection, such as the link 28 which is at its lower end pivoted to the slide (as indicated by the dotted lines 29 in Fig. l), and at its upper end pivoted to the shelf 8. The result of this connection is that when the slide 21 is pulled downwardly, the shelf 9 is rocked forwardly to allow the bottom piece of goods to drop out ofthe magazine. As this construction forms no part of the invention claimed in thiscase, and is moreover described in detail in my aforesaid co-pending application, Serial No.

27,302, I do not deemit necessary to describe with more detail the operation and construction of the delivery mechanism which causes the goods to be ejected out of the magazine. I will but add that when the hand-operated lever 14 is tilted down, the bracket 30 carriedby the lever moves out of engagement with the dog 11 and thus allows the spring 12 to press the upper end of the dog against the article next to be delivered, thereby sustaining the entire column of articles during the delivery operation.

The casing is provided with a suitable coin-chute S which is in alinement with the coin-entrance opening 31 formed in the top of the casing. The coin-chute Sis supported in position by any suitable means, such as the brackets 32 and 33 secured to the front wall of the casing. As shown in Fig. 1, one corner of the lower portion of the coin-chute is cut away to accommodate the extension 34 of the pawl 17. This extension 34 is provided with a lateral shoulder 35 which cooperates with the opposite end wall of the coin-chute to temporarily support the depositedcoin, which is indieated by the dotted lines C in Fig. 1.

The operation of the coin-actuated pawl 17 will now be clearly understood and is as follows:

As previously stated, normally the pawl 17 hangs in a position in which the hook 18 is over the fixed shoulder 19, so that the pawl is locked against downward movement. However, when a proper coin is deposited, the weight of the coinrocks the pawl into a position to bring the toe 24 into the recess 25 of the slide 21, whereby the toe 24 is just above the projection 27 of the slide. The movement of the pawl 17 under the weight of the coin also moves the hook 18 away from theshoulder 19, thereby unlocking the lever 14 for operation' When new the le ver 14 is pressed downwardly by means of suitable connections, which will be presently described, the toe portion 24engages the projectio'1r27 of the slide 21 and "forces the latter downwardly. This downward movement of the slide 21 rocks the delivery shelf 8 which releases the lowermost article for deliveryto the bottom of the casing whence it is removed by the purchaser.

The lever 14 is operated from the outside of the casing by means of a knob or button 36 which is connected to the slide 37 through a vertical slot provided in the side wall. 1 of the casing. The slide 37 isprovided with a pair of spaced projections 38 between which extends the free end of the lever 14. A suitable spring 39, connected at its upper end to the casing and at its lower end to the slide 37, normally holds the latter in uppermost position and thereby also holds the lever 14 in the position shown in Fig. 1. Upon release of the button 36 after operation of the machine, the spring 39 automatically returns the parts tonormal position.

The above described mechanisms do not 1n and of themselves form any part of my present invention, for they are set forth and claimed in my aforesaid co-pending application, Serial No. 27,302, and in my copending divisional application, Serial No. 58,542, filed October 29, 1915.

I will now describe the slot-closing mechanism which forms the subject-matter of my present application.

Beneath the top 5 of the casing is mounted a pair of spring-pressed levers 40 and 41. The lever 40 is pivoted on the stud 42, while the lever 41 is pivotedon the stud 43. The studs 42 and 43 are carried by a suitable bracket 44 which is fixed tov the underside ofthe top 5 of the casing. The lever 40 may properly be called the washer-catching memher, and the lever 41 the controlling member. The lever 41 also constitutes the obstructing member, for it has a portion 45 wiich normally extendsacross one end of the coin-entrance slot 31, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. A suitable coiled spring 46 normally tends to throw the lever 40 across the coin-slot 31. However, a stronger spring 47 normally holds the lever 41 in position to withhold the free end 48 of the lever 40 out of the coin-slot 31. The precise form or arrangement of the levers 40 and 41 is immaterial. In the specificform shown in the drawings, the lever 41 is provided with an extension 49 which engages the extension 50 formed on the lever 40.

The operation of the levers 40 and 41 will and the spring 46 thereby" tends to throw 9 the free'end '48 of 'thelev'er 40-into the coin-slot against the coin. However, as

the spring 416 is weak, the frictional engage ment between the endAtS of the lever40 and the coin is but slight andthere is no [difhculty whatever infforcing the coin past the leversaOend n ne cointhute which guides t lnto itsfoperatr've p'ositlon. How ever, when a washer is thrust into the com entrance slot, the' spring ier rce the free end 18 of the lever through the opening in the washer as soon as that opening comes into alinement with the end 18. this way the washer is positively locked against further insertion into the coinaslot. The lower edge of the end 48f of the lever-10 is beveled so that'the washer may be readily The washercatch ing mechanism above de scribed does not in and of itself co'iistitute a part of my present invention, because it forms the sub ect-matte'rof my co-pending application, Serial No. 7 81,072, filedj July 25, 1913. The presentinventionconslsts 1n.

combining with the aforesaid washer catch 111g device (or, more broadly s'peak1ng,'w1th the obstructing member 141) means forautomatica'lly lockingthe member 11 in obstruct ing position when the supply of goods be" comes exhausted. In the broad aspect of my invention, this meansis not liniited to any particular form or arrangement of mechanism.. In the accompanyingdrawings, I show what Iconsider-tobe a preferred form of mechanism for controlling the obstructing member 411 to lock the same when the magak zinc is empty. I

On the column of goods G rests a suitable weight WV on which is slidably mounted a plate 51 by means of lugs'52which engage in slots 53. of the slide. The front wall "or flange 5i of the magazine-section M is formed w1tlra'ca1n portion 55. The 8116.651 1sprovided with a forwardly extending proj ection 56which isadapted to engage the cam portion 55 and thereby force'the' extension 57 of the slide "51 out ofthe magazine through the slot 58 formed by the offset portion7.v On the inner side wall of the magazine-section is slidably mounted the ba 1'""59 jby nieans of lugs 60 which engage slots'61' in the bar. The bar 59 rests by gravity in the position shown in Fig. 2. a An arni 62 is pivoted at63 to the inner side wall of the magazine-section M. The forward end of this arm engages the lower end of the vertical slide bar 59, while the rear end of the arm 62 is in alinement with the extension 57 of the slide 51, and is adapted to be engaged by said extension when the slide has been shifted to its extreme position by the cooperation of the lug 56 and the cam portion 55.

When the bar 59 is in normal position, the upper end 59 thereof is below the lever 41. However, when the bar 59 is lifted to its uppermost position, the end 59 stands in the path of movement of the lever 11 and posichine. It should be remembered that the portion 45 of the lever 11 is always in 0bst ructirrg position and permits theinsertion of a coin into the machine only when the lever 41 is free to be rocked. when the bar 59 locks the lever 41 against operation, the coin cannotbe inserted into the machine. i

The manner in which the bar '59 is lifted into locking position when the-magazine is empty, willbe clearly understood from the foregoing description, and may be briefly described as follows:

After the weight Win the magazine has descended a suflicient distance, the shoulder 56 of the slide 51 comes into contact with the cam portion 55 and the slide is thereby gradually forced to the left (as viewed in Fig. 1),

the deliVery-shelf-S. When this occurs, the

extension57 on the slide 51 strikes the rear end of the arm 62 and therebythrows the bar 59 upwardly into loclring position, thereby closing the coin-entrance slot 31, as above explained. The bar 59 remains in its locking position as long as the magazine is empty.

[To facilitate the insertion of the weight W into the magazine, I provide the slide 51 with a finger piece 6-1 by means of which the weight 'on'the slide may be lowered into the magazine or removed therefrom. The oflset portion 6 of the 111agazine section M permits the weight-to be inserted no matter in'what position the slide 51 is, for the offset portion 6 will guide-theslide 51 into'the magazine even"shouldtheslide be in shifted position. It will be" clear from, the foregoing that I have provided an exceedingly simple and efiicient. mechanism for automatically closing the coin-entrance slot of a vending machine when the magazine is empty. i

Although Ihave above set forth a slotclosing mechanism 0 of certain specific construction, Iwould have it understood that I have shown and described this specific conzine for containing the vendible goods,

Consequently,

mechanism controlled by the deposited coin for causinmdelivery of said goods, a yieldable mem er normally obstructing said coin-slot, a weight orvfollower for the goods in said magazine, a slide movably mounted on said weight and adapted to be automatically shifted when the supply of goods becomes exhausted, and means whereby the shifted slide locks said member in normal or obstructing position. a

2. I11 a coin-controlled vending machine, a casing provided with a coin-slot, a magazine for containing the vendible goods, mechanism controlled by the deposited coin for causing delivery of said goods, a yieldable member normally obstructing said coin slot, a weight or follower forthe goods in said magazine, and movable means between saidweiglit and said member for automatically locking said member in normal or 0bstructing position when the supply of goods in said magazine becomes exhausted.

8. In a coin-controlled vending machine, a casing provided with a coin-slot, a 1naga zine for containing the vendible goods, a weight or follower for the goods in said magazine, a member movably mounted on said weight, and mechanism controlled by said member for automatically obstructing said coin-slot when the supply of goods in said magazine becomes exhausted 4:; In a coin-controlled vending machine, a casing provided with a coin-slot, a magazine for containing thevendible goods, a weight or follower for the goods in said magazine, a member movably mounted on said weight, a vertical reciprocable bar adapted to be actuated by said member when the supply of goods becomes exhausted, and a slot-closing device controlled by said bar. I

5. In a coin-controlled Vending machine, a casing provided with a coin-slot, a magazine for containing the vendible goods, a weight or follower for the goods in said magazine, a slide movably mounted on said Weight, means for automatically shifting said slide when the supply of goods becomes exhausted, and mechanism controlled by the shifted slide for automatically obstructing said coin-slot.

6. In a coin-controlled vending machine, a casing provided with a coin-slot, a device arrangediat said coin-slot and having a yiledable portion adapted to be engaged by the inserted coin, a magazine for contalning the vendible goods, a weight or follower for the goods in said magazine, a slide mounted on, said Weight, and means controlled by said slide for automatically looking said yieldable portion against movement when. the supply of goods in the magazine becomes exhausted.

7 In a coin-controlled vending machine, a casing provided with a coin-entrance slot, avertical magazine for containing the. vendible goods, a vertically slidable bar mounted at one side of said magazine and normally in a lowermost position, a descending weight or follower in'said magazine on top of the column of goods, member for said bar, means for actuating said member when said weight reaches the bottom ofsaid magazine to raise said bar, and means for locking said slot against the entrance of a coin when said bar is in raised position. Y

8. In a coin-controlled vending machine, a substantially rectangular casing having a coin-entrance slot in its top,a spring-pressed pivoted member mounted beneath said top and yieldably obstructing said coin-slot, a vertically reciprocable bar adapted when raised to lock said member in obstructing position, said bar being normally in a position' to permit movement of said'member by the entering vcoin, a magazine for containing the vendible goods, a weight in said magazlne, and means whereby said weight automatically raises said bar when the goods in the magazine are exhausted.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 26th day of October, 1915.

ALBERT D. GROVER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner 0! Patents,-

Washington, D. 03f

, an operating 

